NABH Digital Health Standards: certification for hospital software and hospitals
Facts checked on 29 October 2026. General information, not legal or financial advice.
In short
NABH now assesses digital health in two ways. It certifies hospital software (HIS and EMR systems) at Basic or Advanced level, and it separately accredits or certifies hospitals on their digital maturity. Both are valid for two years.
Certification of hospital software
NABH's Digital Health Standards for HIS/EMR Systems (1st edition, September 2024) assess whether software supports safe, secure and interoperable care, in line with ABDM and the DPDP Act.
| Point | What NABH states |
|---|---|
| Levels | Basic and Advanced |
| Eligibility | At least three deployments in operational hospitals in India, and a valid ABDM M3 compliance certificate |
| Process | Application, technical evaluation, demonstration and testing (including by NABH-approved testing agencies), closing any gaps, committee review |
| Validity | Two years |
| Fees (two years, plus 18% GST) | Basic: ₹50,000 for HIS or EMR, ₹75,000 for both. Advanced: ₹1,00,000 for HIS or EMR, ₹1,50,000 for both |
What is assessed
Certified products are reported against areas including access and continuity of care, care of patients, management of medication, digital application controls, digital operations, human resources, finance and procurement, and information management.
Digital health accreditation for hospitals
For hospitals, NABH describes maturity levels (Core, Commitment, Achievement and Excellence) leading to Silver, Gold or Platinum accreditation. Certification covers Core and Commitment, leading to Silver. Both are valid for two years.
NABH's FAQ does not say hospitals must use NABH-certified software, but certified software makes the hospital's own assessment easier to prepare for.
Questions to ask any software vendor
- 1.Is your software NABH certified, at which level, and until when?
- 2.If not yet, do you hold ABDM M3, which NABH requires first?
- 3.Which NABH records and audit trails does the software keep for us?
Ask us too. Book a call and we'll answer each one for NexEagle.
